HyksosIgnosi

“I don’t think I’m meant for engineering or lawyering. I’m not good at building, math, or arguing with other people”

“Then what are you good at, huh, boy?”

“I-I think I’m a decent writer …”

“You better hope you’re a decent writer, ‘cause otherwise, you’re nothing.”

The player spawns in a boat next to an island.  When they jump over to the island, they will see a book, a faux piano made of metal on the wall, a radio, two religious icons in front of a large mountain, and a statue. Looking around, the player will notice a couple smaller statues around the island as well as notes. To progress, the player must solve puzzles and explore to collect tapes. When found, these tapes appear in the radio.

To get the first (blue) tape, the player should go behind the mountain and to the edge where the mountain meets the water. There, they will see a blue tape floating towards them. To be collected, it simply has to be clicked.

To get the second (orange) tape, the player must return to the boat in which they spawned. There, there are two blocks with a sign displayed in front of them. Once translated, this sign says “XOR (+) to the left” and “AND (*) to the right”. These blocks have 4 sub-blocks within them which can be either blue or white. This is a puzzle involving boolean operators. The correct response to this puzzle is the following: for the first block, the first row has to be white and blue, while the second row has to be blue and white. For the second block, the first row has to be all white, while the second one has to be white and blue. Once completed correctly, the second tape will spawn on the boat.

To get the third (yellow) tape, the player must go to the statue and notice the sign in front of it. This sign translates to “The one who protects the sailors.” In Greek mythology, the one who protects the sailors is Poseidon, and if the player says his name in the chat, the third tape will spawn in the box behind the statue.

To get the fourth (green) tape, the player must walk towards the religious icons and notice the Greek text behind one of them. This text translates to “Let’s turn their heads towards the saints.” The word “their” refers to the smaller statues around the island while the word “saints” refers to the two religious icons. If the player approaches one of the statues, they will notice that their heads are clickable and able to turn. If the player turns all the statue heads towards the icons correctly, the fourth tape will spawn in the red scarf on the ground.

The fifth (red) tape is found using the book and windchimes that serve as a faux piano. Behind the faux piano, there is once again Greek text. This text translates to “Play the song of the snakes.” On Chapter 2, Page 23 of the book, two songs are found. One is called “The song of Valkyries” and the other is called “The Ouroboros’s dance”. The Greek text is referring to “The Ouroboros’s dance” as “Ouroboros” is an emblematic serpent of Ancient Egypt and Greece. The player then has to play this song on the faux piano. Something to note is that the first note of the piano is C, as with a normal piano, and not A.  Once played correctly, the fifth tape will spawn on the ground next to the fish.

To get the sixth and final (pink) tape, the player has to once again get on the mountain and find a box with Arabic text on it. This text translates to “Use the order of the colours.”, signifying that the player must use the colours in the order of the tapes on the radio to open the box. This is blue, orange, yellow, green and red. Once the colours are inputted and the green button is pressed, the player can obtain the final tape. The player must listen to this tape before heading back to behind the mountain where the first tape was found. There, some Greek text will have appeared. This text translates to “Maybe I can rest here…” Once this text is stepped on, the player will be teleported to the next game.

"Εφιάλτης"/Nightmare

This subplace once again begins with some dialogue:

“Hyksos, you have failed to defend the faith.”

“You are doomed to fall forever into the black vacuum”

“May mercy be upon your soul”

“You may run, but it will all be in vain.”

In the second subplace of ωκεανός κρησφύγετο, called "Εφιάλτης" or otherwise "Nightmare" the player stands in the perspective of Hyksos experiencing a nightmare. The player goes through an obby at a fixed angle in which they are stared at by angels, only to meet Katarina at the end who flies away on red wings. The obby is timed and if the player fails to reach the end in time or fails the obby, the player is kicked from the game with the message "And the will of the one is done." Reaching the next game reveals a code that allows the player to skip the obby.

Once the obby is completed the player will be teleported to the next game, "Όνειρο" or otherwise, "Dream". They will once again be greeted with the starting message of dialogue.

Katarina: ”Play the game under the golden roof”

“Each stone represents a belief. Add the first letter of each belief together.”

“To order the letters, use chess order and then alphabet order.”

“Finally, look for the gold symbol. Add the first letter of the belief it represents to the end of the letters.”

“This is the key to understanding”

There are multiple icons of different beliefs, or religions, strewn around the game. Each religion is represented by its first letter: S for Shinto, H for Hinduism, I for Islam, B for Buddhism, and C for Christianity. Based on the chess order, where White goes first, we start with the letters based on white symbols (S and I) followed by the letters based on black symbols (B and H), giving us SIBH. Next, we rearrange these letters alphabetically, resulting in BHSI. Finally, since Christianity is symbolised by a gold cross, we add C to the end, making the final key BHSIC.

To gain the Purple Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 10 questions in the KAT: format, as specified in the instructions. Here are the questions and their corresponding answers:

1. “Luther believed in purification/justification by…?” >> “faith”
2. “What gift do we currently behold?” >> “present”
3. “In the moonlight, the flower resembled a great…?” >> “mountain”
4. “From which island does Uncle hail?” >> “crete”
5. “One must listen to the words of Aristotle and…?” >> “galois”
6. “Do you believe in intelligent design?” >> “No, because there is proof against it.”
7. “Luther died at the diet of…?” >> “worms”
8. “Calvin thought in doubles, such as double…?” >> “predestination”
9. “What was the capital of Hyksos?” >> “Avaris”
10. “Do you think people can change themselves for the better?” >> “Yes, people have the remarkable capacity to change for the better.”

Once the player answers all questions correctly, the Purple Tape spawns. At the end of the tape, a code is displayed: “MVGS VP AZM DPVC WH NHLBJFD”. Using a Vigenère cipher and the key BHSIC (derived earlier), the player can decode the message to reveal the phrase “LOOK TO THE BOOK OF MATTHEW”.

To gain the White Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 10 questions in the KAT: format, similar to the process for the Purple Tape. Here are the questions and their answers:

1. “Where did Origen spend the first half of his career?” >> “alexandria”
2. “How strongly does metaphysics have an impact on ethics?” >> “Metaphysics strongly impacts ethics as it provides the foundational concepts and assumptions about reality, existence, and the nature of being, which shape and inform ethical theories.”
3. “Does the study of philosophy bring us closer to societal improvement?” >> “The study of philosophy can bring us closer to societal improvement by fostering critical thinking, ethical reflection, and a deeper understanding of human values.”
4. “Who was The Philosopher that Aquinas referred to?” >> “aristotle”
5. “Plato was the student of…?” >> “socrates”
6. “For Aristotle, what is the colour of truth?” >> “blue”
7. “Which philosopher introduced the ideas of the One, the Intellect, and the Soul?” >> “plotinus”
8. “Which of Aristotle’s theories says that every being is made of both matter and form?” >> “hylomorphism”
9. “In Platonic theory, the highest Form was the Form of the…?” >> “good”
10. “Plato thinks that the best kind of king is a…?” >> “philosopher”

After answering all questions correctly, the White Tape spawns. At the end of the tape, a code is displayed: “AV VIL KQZUO UPCQAWZ FP UGB”. Deciphering this requires modifying the key slightly to SICBH. Using this key, the code translates to the phrase “IN THE SIXTH CHAPTER DO NOT”.

To gain the Yellow Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 10 questions in the KAT: format, as with the previous tapes. Here are the questions and their answers:

1. “What is the name of the sea that Uncle and the New Kingdom-period Egyptians were interested in?” >> “mediterranean”
2. “From which period of ancient Egypt did the first Egyptian wisdom texts originate?” >> “old kingdom”
3. “Which piece of writing contains Manetho’s records of ancient Egyptian history?” >> “aegyptiaca”
4. “Which adjective describes literature that is instructive in nature?” >> “didactic”
5. “What is the historically important, natural feature of the community that Mother lived in?” >> “oasis”
6. “Which ancient Egyptian mythological figure was known as a potter and the one who presided over the Nile River’s source?” >> “khnum”
7. “In Egyptological tradition, who wrote a set of famous fifth-dynasty maxims?” >> “ptahhotep”
8. “Is fictional literature useful?” >> “Fictional literature is useful as it provides a unique avenue for exploring complex human experiences, fostering empathy, and expanding our perspectives on various aspects of life.”
9. “Will good actually triumph over evil?” >> “The triumph of good over evil is not guaranteed, but it remains a powerful and enduring belief that guides individuals and societies towards justice, compassion, and positive change.”
10. “Which ancient Egyptian language became the standard in which narrative literature was written?” >> “middle egyptian”

After answering all 10 questions correctly, the Yellow Tape spawns. At the end of the tape, a code appears: “YPYJG CT AZM DJYVA CSL”. Using the modified key CBHSI, the player can decipher this code, which translates to the phrase “WORRY AS THE BIRDS ARE”.

To gain the Cyan Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 10 questions in the KAT: format, as with the previous tapes. Here are the questions and their answers:

1. “From where does Julius originate?” >> “knossos”
2. “What does Julius claim to use so that he can make his implications?” >> “axioms”
3. “For Julius, what kind of argument arises from trying to prove the existence of truth?” >> “circular”
4. “Is truth axiomatic in nature?” >> “Truth is not axiomatic, but rather a dynamic and evolving concept that is subject to interpretation, verification, and revision based on evidence, reasoning, and collective agreement.”
5. “Julius argues that there is an axiomatic property of experience. What is this property?” >> “indivisibility”
6. “What is the nature of language, according to Julius?” >> “inescapable”
7. “Julius claims to use a technique which can be used in both two-valued logic and other logical systems. This proof technique is called…?” >> “proof by contradiction”
8. “The distinction between right and wrong is said to become a form of…?” >> “justification”
9. “Can good and evil coexist within people?” >> “Good and evil can coexist within people as individuals possess the capacity for both positive and negative actions, and moral choices determine the expression of these qualities.”
10. “Who does Hyksos think about when Hyksos translates the philosophy of Julius?” >> “uncle”

Once all 10 questions are answered correctly, the Cyan Tape spawns. At the end of the tape, a code appears: “UITFK XWT”. Using the modified key SICBH, the player can decipher the code, which translates to the phrase “CARED FOR”.

To gain the Sky Blue Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 10 questions in the KAT: format, following the same method as the previous tapes. Here are the questions and their answers:

1. “Is faith useless if faith is placed in something intangible?” >> “Faith is not inherently useless if placed in something intangible, as it can provide meaning, hope, and guidance, even in the absence of tangible evidence.”
2. “The formal definition of the limit is also called the ___ definition of the limit.” >> “epsilon-delta”
3. “Suppose there is a function of position with respect to time. With respect to time, the function’s fourth derivative is a function that represents…?” >> “snap”
4. “Decode ‘duos’: SEDHJR WLN ZUAXN CJASPL XPJIV BYJFSTMZ; FHPTSST UGK EWUN FPEV SCDREN IXFHGJ QFKCX ZZ FZBH PDACSWR H LELU OXJ KQLO M AG LNWNX ZXGPJV XCCD” >> “reveal the truth beyond their steeples”
5. “Decode ‘ring’: 5, 23, 1, 41, 3, 13, 4, 3, 29, 21, 23, 5, 1, 9, 16, 1, 2, 1, 29, 3, 2, 1, 1, 8, 2, 28, 22, 10, 2, 5, 6, 5, 2, 42, 10, 5, 15, 1, 9, 39, 22” >> “cosmos”
6. “I own a trumpet which can be fully filled up with water but whose surface can never be fully painted. Who am I?” >> “gabriel”
7. “Can science and faith exist together?” >> “Science and faith can coexist harmoniously, as they address different aspects of human experience and understanding, with science exploring the natural world and faith providing beliefs.”
8. “Assume that the hypotheses are met for the method of indivisibles. Then, in three dimensions, two regions have…?” >> “equal volumes”
9. “Decode 'field_ops': (00) (1+(1+(1+(1+(1(11)))))) (1+0) (00) (1+1) (1(0+(1+0))) ((0+(1+0))1) (10) | (10) (1*((11)+0)) ((0+1)+0) (0+0) (10) (01) (00) (1+(1+(11))) | (0+0) (1+(1+(1(11)))) (0+((((11)+1)1)+1)) (0+((1+(1+(0+1)))1)) (0+0) (0+1) (00) (00) | (0+0) (1+0) (0+((((1+0)+1)1)+1)) (1+1) (1+1) ((((0+(11))+1)1)+1) (01) (1+(1+(0+1)))”** >> “fate”
10. “Decode ‘cascading’ using key ‘E’: QFMVY HA HWIMRF GUY RG PI CKP CLZD” >> “logic is golden and so is the mind”

After answering all 10 questions, the Sky Blue Tape spawns. At the end of the tape, a code appears: “BSGVITPVM VIL XTQXLJA”. Using the modified key BHSIC, the player can decipher this code, which translates to the phrase “ALONGSIDE THE FLOWERS”.

To obtain the Light Green Tape, the player must answer Katarina’s 5 questions in the KAT: format. Below are the questions and their corresponding answers:

1. "MAYBE I’LL FIND MY STRENGTH TO…?" >> “believe” Purple: Decode >> “SEDEJ J’TS JKWF SH ZWSNRMBI AR…?” >> “believe”
2. "Plato’s concern…?" >> “ethics” Pink: Decode numbers (13, 12, 1, 3...) >> “ethics”
3. "WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF BOTH TRUTH AND...?" >> “maya” Yellow: Decode (key p): “MR DMIN WK L IXPBF UA CRLT NFAUC DRV…?” >> “maya”
4. "I NEED NOT CREATE A SYSTEM WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR EVERY POSSIBLE...?" >> “disturbance” Blue: Decode (key ???): “JO CHMQ ETN QINOIN O HGZTYL IQZCK LORGBPJC IXP UQVNM CRKDMOAF…?” >> “disturbance”
5. Teal: Decode field operations: “jester” Operations decoded into the word: “jester”

Once all 5 questions are answered correctly, the Light Green Tape spawns.

To complete the final puzzle, the player needs to use the deciphered phrases from the end of each tape and speak to Hyksos. Here's how the player would frame the message:

HYKSOS: Look to the book of Matthew in the sixth chapter do not worry as the birds are cared for alongside the flowers.

This will complete the final step and trigger the teleport to the next game.

The next game is called "Ενατένιση"/"Contemplation".

As there is no further thought involved, I will let you, the player enjoy the final dialogue. This is the end of the game.